South African Airways Proud Official Airline of the Trek4Mandela Expedition

JOHANNESBURG. 13 July 2015. South African Airways is proud to be the official carrier for the Trek4Mandela Expedition, where an intrepid group of mountain climbers will be trekking up Mount Kilimanjaro to raise funds in support of improving the lives of young girls across Africa.

The campaign forms part of initiatives in celebration of International Nelson Mandela Day on 18 July, which is annually celebrated across the globe where people pledge their support to Mandela Day initiatives in celebration of the life of South Africa’s former statesman and global icon for peace.

The Kilimanjaro adventurers consisting of five teams will be participating in a climb – the first of its kind – with 27 executives and celebrities in the group who will be attempting to climb and summit Mount Kilimanjaro in support of International Mandela Day.

The group departed today on SA186 at 10h30 to Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, and onwards to Kilimanjaro, to return on 20 July on SA187 at 15h40 arriving at ORTIA at 18h20.

Mrs Graca Machel, global advocate for women’s and children’s rights and ambassador of the Nelson Mandela Foundation; Fikile Mbalula, Minister of Sport and Recreation; Liesl Laurie, Miss South Africa, who is also a SAA’s Brand Ambassador, were on site today with a host of media and other supporters to wish the teams well on departure from OR Tambo International Airport. Leanne Manas, presenter for Morning Live is amongst the group of climbers.

“We feel privileged to participate in this project, whereby as the South African flag carrier, we join the global movement to help change our world for the better. What better way to make a difference in the lives of young girls and support International Nelson Mandela Day initiatives that strengthen education?,” says SAA Acting CEO Nico Bezuidenhout.

SAA customers are encouraged through various communications mediums to support Mandela Month initiatives, promoting the Trek4Mandela campaign and other initiatives. SAA’s participation in the event stems from its Corporate Social Investment (CSI) department which has a long standing partnership with the Nelson Mandela Foundation, with the project aligned with its objectives to contribute toward quality education in South Africa.

Through the Trek4Mandela Expedition participants and their companies or organisations will support a total of 270, 000 impoverished girls from rural and poor schools with sanitary towels to keep them in school. Research shows that girls from marginalised backgrounds could miss up to 50 days of school each year due to menstrual challenges. The teams will strive to raise R40 million to support 270 000 girls with sanitary pads for a year.